Just Like a WomanThought provoking review of two new books that rescue the brilliant Jane Austen from being dismissed as a writer of romantic froth. Hear hear — she is so much more than that.

Model TransformationsW magazine has a fun slide show featuring legendary models transformed into other famous people — check out Linda Evangelista, Karen Elson and Jessica Stam among others. Slightly NSFW — just so you know.

An Elegantly Frugal Rental in MaineInspiring slide show of the home of Michael Fleming, a Maine artist and furniture maker who works with driftwood; his partner, Jennifer Wurst; and their young son, Finn — all living stylishly on an income Ms. Wurst calls “near poverty level.” Their secret? Found and handmade furnishings, thrift and ingenuity. Beautiful.

A Stitch in TimeFed up with the often trashy designs on offer in children's clothing stores when shopping for her young daughter, Alexandra Lange started looking for vintage clothing patterns, quickly discovering that her own taste in kids' clothes is the same as her taste in furniture, art and architecture — the 1960s. She particularly loves the mod Mary Quant look — for herself as well as for her daughter, which is actually right on trend for fall.

Adventures in Indiana State Fair Food 2011The Incidental Economist rounds up his family and heads off to sample the wildest of state fair food — including the doughnut burger, the ice cream burger, deep fried peanut butter cups and deep fried kool-aid. I think my arteries hardened just reading about his afternoon there. Via The Browser.

The College YearsIt's back to school this week — armed with personal histories and transfer credits, grads from ’88 to ’15 hold a fall-semester seminar for The Morning News on majors, dorms, and the types of roommates to avoid.